“The Story of the Betta Fish – A Spiritual Lesson Taught by a Six Year Child”
By: Kimberly Ware
It’s so amazing how much you can learn from a young child. Children are filled with honesty and see the world in much depth. As parents, we should see our children as gifts from God. We should cherish the time we spend in guiding and nurturing them. Our children are the leaders of our future.
I want to share a story that will touch the heart and souls of many. This is a story of my dear daughter, Autumn. Autumn has the gift of seeing the divine truth from within. Her eyes are so beautiful and intense. Every since she was baby her eyes has revealed that she’s a wise soul. Autumn was sent her by God to touch many lives and teach spiritual lessons to others.
One night we had a very enlightening conversation. We were both talking about her pet betta fish. Last year I bought Autumn a betta fish for her birthday and she named him Brandon. Autumn was curious about her betta fish. Out of the blue Autumn mentioned that Brandon looked lonely in his fish bowl.
“Mommy, Brandon looks so lonely. He is all by himself in his fish bowl. Can we get him another fish to put in his fish bowl so that he would not be lonely?”
“Well dear, Brandon is a male betta fish and male betta fish has to swim alone in the bowl. If you put another male betta fish in the bowl them they will fight and kill each other.”
“Oh, Mama, that is horrible! Brandon is bad fish.”
“No, Autumn, that’s part of nature. Brandon is not a bad fish; it’s a part of his instincts. He’s good to you. Every time you come into the room, he comes to the front of the fish bowl to greet you doesn’t he?”
“Yes he does Mama.” Autumn looked at Brandon through his fish bowl. Suddenly Autumn thought of another idea for her pet fish.
“Well Mama, since Brandon can’t live in the same bowl with a boy betta fish then maybe we can get a girl betta fish and they can have a baby betta fish.”
I smiled at Autumn and was intrigued with her interest in her pet betta fish and keeping him happy.
“Sweetie, Brandon can’t have a girl betta fish in the bowl with him because if she is not ready to reproduce the male betta fish may fight her too and attack the babies too. You see dear the male betta fish lives a solitary life; they like to live alone similar to other animals like male bears and tigers.”
“Oh, I see Mom.” Autumn sat for a moment in deep thought. She looked at her mom and made a revelation.
“Well Mom, the betta fish is just like Daddy. Daddy likes to fight and yell at you and me. He never wanted us around just like Brandon. That is why you left Daddy so he can’t hurt us no more and will not fight us no more. Is that right mama?”
My mouth flew open in disbelief that a child at such a young age could understand so much and be so wise. No matter how hard I tried to protect my child to not see what was happening to me with the arguing and fighting that was going on between her father and I, she still knew.
“Yes, Dear you are right.” I hugged Autumn in my arms. I shed tears of joy to know that I made the best decision in leaving an abusive relationship.
Autumn was my inspiration to leaving an abusive marriage. I stayed as long as I did to try t keep the family together but deep down inside I was hurting; I was in pain. Autumn would ask me many times why do you stay with dad when he treats you so mean? I one day had the courage to leave and remove my children out of the negative environment.
The Betta Fish Story is a spiritual lesson that I have learned from my six year old daughter. She is my motivator and she has taught me a valuable lesson. Yes, parents can learn from their children. Sometimes we must open our hearts to our minds to the spiritual lesson and truths in stories that are taught from our children.
Sometimes in order to make things better for your children you have to be willing to walk out on faith and follow in God’s light. I hope that this story touches other people's hearts and I want to thank my beautiful daughter, Autumn, for revealing God’s truth through the betta fish story.
This is an excerpt from Kimberly S. Ware’s book Heal My Wings: A Healing Guide for Women. Kimberly S. Ware is also a sought after speaker and the author of Heal My Wings: A Healing Guide for Women, Heal My Wings: A Healing Journal & Workbook, The Nia Trilogy, and The Natalie Series. You contact Kimberly Ware at info@kimberlyware.com. Her website address is
www.kimberlyware.com.